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"Around 75 per cent of tourists to Syria are from neighbouring countries and the GCC. We were at last year's show and achieved very good results. Syria received an estimated 676,602 arrivals from the GCC in 2005, compared with the 603,702 in 2004."
"The region has great potential as a feeder market over the next ten years. Tourism trends show that there is a steady increase in demand for travel and holidays in high spending markets."
Syria will unveil a range of marketing initiatives targeting Middle East visitors at ATM 2006, to be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 2 - 5 May.
The GCC countries are home to some of the region's highest number of high net worth income individuals and according to recent banking industry reports the Middle East will account for US$ 1.5 trillion of the world's private wealth by 2007.
Chris Chackal, Group Exhibition Director - Overseas Events of organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions, said, "Holiday spending from the region has grown rapidly in recent years. Gulf travellers are among the highest spenders internationally.
"This is one of the reasons why national tourism organisations worldwide are setting up Middle East offices to encourage outbound tourists to their respective markets.
"To date 50 national tourism offices and 59 represented countries have already registered to exhibit at Arabian Travel Market 2006."
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai.
Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News Editor
